This Week in Podcasts: Lena Dunham and Alec Baldwin Have a Chat

The comedy podcast universe is ever expanding, not unlike the universe universe. We’re here to make it a bit smaller, a bit more manageable. There are a lot of great shows and each has a lot of great episodes, so we want to highlight the exceptional, the noteworthy. Each week our crack team of podcast enthusiasts and specialists and especially enthusiastic people will pick their favorites. Also, we’ll keep you posted on the offerings fromour very own podcast network. We hope to have your ears permanently plugged with the best in aural comedy.

SAMANTHA: Adam Pally is one of the most magnetic, naturally funny people I’ve had the pleasure of seeing onstage; he has an ability to command an entire room’s attention that translates perfectly onscreen (as Max Blum on Happy Endings, he’s irresistible despite his sloth-like, self-obsessed ways) as well as in casual conversation (take, for instance, this very episode of Who Charted). As hosts Howard and Kulap (who recently guested on Happy Endings) guide us through the Billboard K-pop 100 and Top MLK Weekend Films, Pally slips in an extra chart (his own Top 5 Favorite Movies), gives some real talk on relationships, declares himself “Hollywood’s Next Jew,” reveals his parent’s musical past, and is generally just the best. There’s also a rowdy round of Chart Piñata (and, bonus: if you’re looking for the cutest K-pop band to YouTube stalk, Kulap’s got you covered).Here’s the Thing #32 – Lena Dunham

ELISE: Alec Baldwin certainly can’t be described as a great interviewer, but whether it’s star power or just natural charm, hisconversations are always interesting. In this episode, the fun is listening to him be completely won over by Lena Dunham, someone with whom he admits he didn’t think he’d have much in common. As an interviewee, she’s totally game, rolling with Alec’s (somewhat infuriating) tendency to constantly interrupt, and not minding as he negotiates roles for himself in all her future projects. They also delve deep into Girls, discussing her writing process, the morals of her characters, and how not being a mean person keeps her from feeling like a real comedy writer. The two share a mutual fascination that makes the discussion feel a bit formal, but at only 40 minutes, it’s that rare podcast that leaves you wanting more.

ROGER: This week’s edition of the Roadstories Podcast is perfect for someone who ever wanted to know what makes Andrew Dice “Jewish Fonzie” Clay tick. How does a man who chooses to present himself as cool by smoking a cigarette around his head in front of other human beings decide on whether or not to bring a comedian with him on tour? How does a man who employed and possibly still employs a man named Hot Tub Johnny to be his road manager handle surviving a near plane crash? How much does a man need to make from EMF royalties to not take everything from every green room, exactly? Eric Edwards dominated the conversation with his entertaining tale of touring with Clay and his crew at the start of his career in the early 1990s, and Matt Fulchiron’s slightly bitter (Clay was the only person to ever fire him) Dice related jokes repeatedly interrupted the story were very funny and made the episode a particularly fun and memorable one.

BRADFORD: As hosts Cole Stratton and Vanessa Ragland say at the top of this week’s Pop My Culture, Stephen Tobolowsky is a master storyteller. Luckilly, on the show this week he gets to do what he does best: tell some stories. Tobolowsky shares a couple of great tales about break-ins, Steven Seagal, and a bunch of tourists not noticing Robert Redford and James Earl Jones right in front of them on the Universal lot because they’re looking at an iconic mechanical shark. Tobolowsky’s stories don’t completely dominate the show, with him joining in on pleasant conversation and fun bits with Stratton and Ragland in between his amazing stories.

JAY: Forget Oprah, Howard Stern is still the King of All Media. There is a reason satellite radio paid him hundreds of millions of dollars. I didn’t fully understand why until I posted this episode of Mohr Stories on my website (www.comedyk.com) and the normal daily traffic doubled. To be fair, some of the traffic could have been Opie and Anthony or Adam Carolla fans. One thing is clear; terrestrial radio made a great move by ending the “guy talk” format. Anyway, in this episode of Mohr Stories, comedian and podcaster Greg Fitzsimmons joins Jay on the show and they get right into Howard’s dislike of Mohr. Jay usually comes clean about the asshole he used to be in New York, but he can’t understand/remember why Stern would still have a grudge against him. Next, they reminisce about the old days of stand-up in Boston, Freud, hip-hop, and other podcasts. It concludes with the pair attempting to emulate Adam Carolla’s signature rants. Now that I think of it, it could be the Carolla fans who made this episode of Mohr Stories so popular. Whatever the case, Mohr and Fitzsimmons illustrate why comedians are so underrated in the current landscape of American entertainment. So, for all of the fans involved: Baba Booey, Whip ’em Out, and Mahalo. Put your name on it!

This Week on the Splitsider Podcast Network:

This week we recap the 2013 CES! Learn all about the latest gadgets and gizmos, as well as an old second rate Spencer’s Gifts-style store in the local mall called Gadgets and Gizmos. Before the tech talk Tim goes over some of his favorite dangerous car bits and Tom gets a flu shot from a somewhat shady Chinatown doctor.

A live recording from the NYC Podfest with Kevin Allison (The State, RISK!), Ilana Glazer (Broad City) and Anthony Atamanuik (30 Rock, Death By Roo Roo). Kevin Allison discusses the origin of The State’s “Taco Mailman” sketch and explains why The State didn’t do more episodes at MTV. Ilana Glazer talks about Oprah hosting SNL in 1986 and how Oprah beat out “Hugh Humphrey” in the ratings. Anthony Atamnuik introduces the world to virtual reality “Murder She Wrote.” And a special clip from “Cop Rock” that will blow your mind.

This week on the Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin show, Jeff is joined by Sean Howe, author of Marvel Comics: The Untold Story. They talk about how Sean Howe managed to research his book, the influence of Stan Lee vs. Jack Kirby, how Marvel Comics became so popular in the 60’s and how they are now doing the same with their cinematic universe.

Our story this week: Diana Spechler was really just one of the guys, perfectly content to hang in the dorm, get high, and pine for Thai food. Until one awkward night when the inner lining of her uterus lept out of her and smack into a bravura performance of unwavering denial. Not even the golden Buddha is safe from this Lady.

On this episode: Dealbreaker!, a commercial for the all-new Latteatto, the WLHR Telethon, Frasier sings other theme songs, a man makes a bit of a flub when dialing 911, a man tries to buy a gun, “FriendZone!” the cool game for nice guys, an ad for Weekend Dad Beer, and two people profess their love to its limit.

Roger Cormier is afraid that he’d also be the Big Bopper in a Buddy Holly plane crash scenario.